Background and Concept of MIFA - A Program to Increase the Participation of Minorities at University of Oslo (UiO)

The MiFA-Mangfold = diversity in Focus In the Academia: Working for the diversity at the University Nirmala Eidsgård – MiFA - UiO

Presentation 09.02.10 at Technische Universität Braunschweig

MiFA

2003 – 2007 A project funded by the Ministry of Education and Research

2008 – onwards: Implemented as the unit for diversity work at the Department student & academic affairs.

• Anchored in the University Strategy plan • Two full time workers & up to 15 hourly paid students &

about 70 volunteer workers.

Why such a initiative?

To strengthen the terms between ethnicity, higher education and participation in society.

• Surveys had indicated that students with minority backgrounds are under-represented in higher education

• The Parliamentary intentional policy document no. 17: ”actions should be taken to increase the number of students with minority-background in higher education”

Our Focus

Recruiting - Increase the amount of minority students at UiO: Actions at the upper secondary schools, secondary schools & cooperation with the adult education

To encourage and ensure a multicultural student environment at the University of Oslo: MiFA student support, Dialogue seminars & debates

Networking towards the labor market, to ease the access to relevant jobs after graduation: Language course for improve the language skills for the labor market.

Does MiFA make a difference?

We believe that higher education leads to higherinfluence and involvement of minorities in the

society

It is crucial that people with influence in our society

represent an ethnic diversity

We try to motivate young people tomake their own decisions about education

Students at the upper secondary schools• Who needs MiFA?

• Who finds their way to higher education on their own?

• How can we avoid stigmatization?

Different categories of students

Recruitment 2003 - 2008

• Implemented MiFA as an elective subject in 5 upper secondary schools with high percentage of minority students.

• A team work of school advisors, MiFA staff, UiO students & pupils from schools

MiFA team - 2009

• MiFA-pilot: A course in value based leadership (in cooperation with Desmond Tutus peace center, SA). Offers to the upper secondary schools in Oslo

• 3 training periods where the participants have to undertake the information, motivation works at their own schools, by using their leadership characteristics in schools

• Role models: students who reflect an ethnical and academic diversity

Results

• Number of students who applied to the University from MiFA project schools had been increased during the project period. (2003 – 2007; 37%)

• The simile statistics for all upper secondary schools in Oslo for the same period is 7%

Our efforts towards the schools• MiFA-pilot: A course in value based

leadership (in cooperation with Desmond Tutus peace center, SA). Offers to the upper secondary schools in Oslo

• The course content 3 training periods where the participants have to undertake the information, motivation works at their own schools, by using their leadership characteristics in schools

• Role models: students who reflect an ethnical and academic diversity

Effort towards the school …

A Pilot Project in mentor arrangement at a secondary school with more than 95% pupils with minority background. (Project is

funded by the Oslo municipal council) • Selected pupils from the school get a student from

the university as a mentor• Main target is to improve the pupils` school

performances.• The pupil and the student meet once a week under

given conditions. • The school take necessary action to measure the

result, by using the marks pupils obtain.

12% students with minority background in 2009

Utvikling siden 2006

Fordeling av min. studenter

Efforts at the University

The learning environment MiFA student SupportSeminars and debatesSocial adjustments activitiesCooperation with the student

parliament,Norwegian student union & the ethnic student-unions

Facts: Norwegian labour market

higher rate of unemployment among minorities

70 % of Norwegian employers says that the linguistic problems may hinder employment of people with multi-cultural background

25 % fears that ethnic diversity may create religious and work-related conflicts

70% all vacancies in Norway use to be filled through the personal contacts

Course in business language for minority students followed by a mentor from a company

• First course completed in march 2009.

• Right now we are negotiating a collaboration with the Norwegian, employment & welfare agency in order to providing mentors for course participants

Any questions?

Thank You for your attention